Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-11
JOURNALISM IN JAPAN.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIVE
LEADING NEWSPAPERS.
The First Japanese Daily Brought Out
in Yokohama in 1S71-Small Circula-
ton of the Newspapsrs-The Con
tinued Story Business.

On June IS, 1871, the first daily in japan
was launched in Yokohama under the title Of
The Yokohama and Tokyo Mainici Shimbur
The Yokohama and Tokyo Journal. and il
is still one of the leading papers in the
country. 1t is now simply called The Man
ichi Shimbun Tor The Daily Journal, and it
headquarters are in Tokyo; nevertheless i,
contains more local news of Yokohama thsr
any other of the great dailies. 1t is progres
sive in politics, and the editorial columns arr
under the charge of three able writers, while
the news columns are taken care of by six
editors. The total number OF men connected
with this paper is given at about seventy,
exclusive OF the type and printing depart
inents It's daily circulation is at presen.
5000, one-half of which is circulated
III Tokyo and Yokohama. and the rest
Throughout the country. There is no issue
ON SUNDAYS 1t Is four page paper OF
twenty by fifteen inches, to which are added
occasional supplements. The subscription
rate Is SG.l0 per annum, including postage
to any part OF the world; a single COPY sells
for three cents.
The leading paper that came next into ex-
istence was The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun
' :,
Feb q, 1872 This is a conservative
paper, and is with the government in its
political views. Its staff is as fellows: Five
managers 5 editors 10 news writers, proof
readers, go clerks, 50 carriers for Tokyo, 60
typesetters, 80 printers, 8 engineers and l
smith. The machinery with which this paper
Is printed consists of a steam engine of eight
horse power, and the following machines,
viz, one of thirty-two pages and three Of
sixteen pages, four foot presses and two hand
presses. 1t is an eight page paper. twenty
by fifteen inches. It's daily circulation is
quoted at l0,500 copies, COCO Of which are
distributed III the interior of the country and
in foreign countries; the remaining 3 500 are
sold III Tokyo. 1t is issued every day except
Monday. when there is no issue. \ single copy
costs four cents, and the yearly subscription
IS $3.50, with postage extra. Mr. Fukuchi
the proprietor and the editor-in-chef, is one
of the best living writers in Japan Mr..
Fukuchi was the president of the local par
lament of Tokyo since It's organization, but
is now retired
The Choya Shimbun The Government and
the People comes next in the order of
seniority among the leading papers. 1t was
launched Sept. l, 1872; it is now managed by
three editors and five news writers On Mon
days there is no issue. It's daily circulation
is 5000 i'll Tokyo and 800 in other parts Of
the country and in foreign countries, making
q total of 1900 copies The printing is done
by the following rolling machines: One of
forty-eight pages, two of thirty-two pages
d one of sixteen pages, besides five similar
...ochines. 1t is liberal in politics and is sup
posed to be the most literary OF the leading
dailies. Single copies Of it cost three cents.
and the yearly subscription is S610 with
postage extra, except in cities Of large
population where it is delivered free. Mr..
Narushimo, who started it, is nov dead, and
the effect of his loss is plainly to be seen.
Almost simultaneously with the issue Of
the last paper there came into existence The
Yubin Hochi Shimbun (Thc Mail. This is
one of the great dailies, and is progressive in
politics. 1t is four page paper of double
the size of the other dailies. It sells for four
cents, or $50 for the year, with postage ex-
ira, except in q few special districts, where
no postage is charged. The circulation Of
this paper is probably between 5000 and
10000 day. Just a week ago to-day the
paper made an extraordinary change; its
used to be, and the price was reduced in
nearly equal proportion. Il IS now selling
for one and ono-half cents a copy, and the
subscription rate was reduced to So per
annum from $3.50. This change is said to
be the result of the editors tour in Europe
The latest yet the most widely circulated
paper among the leading Journals in Japan is
the Jiji Shimpoo CThe Times. II was started
IN March, 1sS2 It's editorial columns are
under the personal supervision of AIR Fultus-
ava the originator and owner, with the CO
operation Of two competent writers. Mr.
Fukusawa is the man who brought into ia
pan from the United States the first copy Of
Wehster's unabridged dictionary ever i'm
ported. He had published q vast number Of
translated works from the English at a time
when Japan's intercourse with the western
world was in its infancy He has thus diff
fused among the japanese all immense
amount Of knowledge on the arts and sci.
ences and western civilization III general.
His later publications are from his own pen,
but / am inclined to think that his transla-
tons have won him the greater fame. Mr..
Fukusawa is besides, the founder of the
largest private college in Japan. The Times
TOKYO. There are other officers who take
charge Of other departments. / am informed
BIZ q gentleman friend Of mine who Is well
posted in the matter that The Times has
more correspondents in the different parts Of
the country. as Wen rs in foreign countries,
than any other japanese paper. and this
agrees with my own impression II IS indie
pendent in politics, and the daily circulation
Is l3.4JO copies, !, 700 Of which are sold in
Tokyo, and the remaining 200 are distrib-
utad - subscribers in other parts Of the
and foreign countries. Sundays are
set apart as holidays for the employes, but it
i issued every other morning Of the week.
The annual subscription IS So. 80: single copies
three cents Its four page paper Of twenty
three by seventeen inches, with Two page
supplement o. Mondays.
these five arr called the leading dailIes, and
there are nov some seventy other daily pa
pers distributed al over the country. They
are all published il tie morning cxcep: two
or three. which are circulated in the after
noon Among them there are aboI. dozen
Of Illustrated papers They are written in
IN easy style. and contain usually a couple
Of illustrations. They stop at point where
people are interested TO know the sequel 1t
IS ottentinles stated ct the termination q the
article that. owing 20 the want Of sp-ce. the
most interesting part OF the story Is carried
% the next issue. Before one Story Is COM
Dleted another IS begun, and this impe!s pco-
be 10 continue their subscription 7 hose
publications find their way among the lower
lass Of people because q their Sasy style o.
writing. their Illustrations and their low
2rices. 4 single copy Of this sort Ct paper
els at oEle ard orebalf cents, and tho monthly
3 from twenty-five TO thirty
'ents, with postage extra Their circulation
: larger than the other class # dailseS. and |
; from Z. Csp1 to -, 90 pr day -Tokohoa1a /